Sunderland came from behind to beat Luton Town 2–1 at the SoL in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday evening.
Luton took an early lead from a corner when Elijah Adebayo bundled the ball past Anthony Patterson. However, Sunderland struck back just before the break with a stunning strike by Amad Diallo, before Trai Hume nodded the lads ahead midway through the second half. It gives Tony Mowbray's side a one goal advantage going into Tuesday's second leg.
After the fantastic result on Deepdale on Monday secured the lads’ place in the play-offs, Tony Mowbray was sweating on the fitness of Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin. Both picked up knocks in the 3-0 victory prompting the gaffer to quip that he was the only fit centre half available at the club.
The visitors headed to Wearside in good form unbeaten in 14 games and with one of the best away records in the league. The two league games this season were both close affairs and both 1-1 draws so any hope of Sunderland emulating Peterborough’s result in Friday’s League One semi-final seemed a way off.
Tony Mowbray made one change to the side that started on Monday with Dennis Cirkin missing out through injury and replaced by Alex Pritchard. It meant a makeshift defence became even more makeshift although there was some positive news on the injury front with Niall Huggins returning to the bench.
The visitors got the game underway in front of a sell out crowd kicking towards their fans in the North Stand. It was an electric atmosphere and the lads had the first effort on goal after five minutes when Jack Clarke drove down the left but his left footed shot from the angle was wide of the mark.
A few minutes later the lads when close again when Roberts cut in from the right and clipped a curling shot towards the bottom corner but the keeper parried it away with Gelhardt unable to capitalise on the rebound. Luton however took the lead with their first attack of the game after they won a corner on the right. The ball was stood up and although Sunderland valiantly tried to clear the ball the height and power of the visitors told when after a scramble Adebayo turned the ball past Patterson.
Dan Neil picked up a yellow after 15 minutes for a late tackle as Sunderland struggled to get to grips with Luton. Neil was then caught on the ball after 20 minutes allowing Luton to break, but Patterson was able to hold Morris’ shot from the edge of the box. Luton then won another corner after Gooch was easily beat on the right but Dan Neil did well to deflect a shot behind for a corner. The corner was again stood up to the back post but Patterson did well under pressure to come and claim the ball.
With the goal advantage Luton predictably began to time-waste at every opportunity but Sunderland were struggling to get into their final third whilst Luton seemed to break on us with ease. This changed five minutes before the break when Sunderland drew level after a fantastic piece of skill from Roberts won a free kick on the edge of the Luton box. Sunderland took the free kick short with Pritchard laying the ball off to Amad who curled an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner to lift the roof off the Stadium.
The goal lifted the lads and we ended the half on top with Ekwah testing the keeper with a shot from the edge of the box before the red blew for half time. Neither side made a change at the break and Sunderland won an early corner in the second half but Pritchard swung it deep to the back post and Luton were able to clear. The first ten minutes of the second half were cagey with Luton looking happy to protect the draw and time waste whilst the lads struggled to unlock their stubborn defence.
With half an hour left Patrick Roberts went on a good run from the right and forced a corner when his low shot was tipped round the post. Sunderland took the corner short eventually working the ball back to Clarke on the left onto the head of Trai Hume who nodded Sunderland into the lead and once again rock the SoL to its foundations.
The lads started to take the game to the visitors and Clarke did well to win a corner with 20 minutes left. Sunderland took it short again before Pritchard curled the ball to Ekwah who saw his shot blocked before Dan Neil put a dipping half volley just wide of the post. Sunderland then won a free kick in a dangerous position after Roberts was fouled just outside the box but worryingly for Sunderland Amad took a bad knock in the build up.
Fortunately he was able to continue and Alex Pritchard delivered a dangerous cross from the free kick which was just ahead of Jack Clarke and went out for a goal kick. Luton seemed rattled and started hacking down Sunderland players at any opportunity causing a spat on the touchline with Michael Proctor getting a telling off from the fourth official.
With ten minutes left Mowbray made his first change of the evening with Patrick Roberts replaced by Niall Huggins. Sunderland kept pushing forward for a third and a well worked move saw Amad eventually tumble in the box but he was booked for diving. Two minutes from time there was bad news for Sunderland when Pritchard limped off to be replaced by Ba.
There was six minutes added time signalled by the fourth official and Sunderland saw them out well although Luton did force a late free kick which invited pressure. The lads battled hard to snuff out the attack before the ref blew the whistle.
Final Score – Sunderland 2 Luton Town 1
ALS Man of the Match - Amad Diallo
